We are massive fans of the Leapfrog Tag reading system in this house. Leapfrog anything in fact. Last Christmas Beastie received a tag reader along with some story books and an interactive map of the world. The world map has to be my absolute favourite and you know I could learn a thing or two with him…

If you’re like me and keen to find fun ways to help your little ones learn how to read, then the tag reading systems might be the answer you have been looking for. There are lots of products in the range which are aimed at different age groups.

As Beastie has recently started school he’s actively developing his reading skills and the alphabet. It’s all about phonics this term and it’s great to see how his enthusiasm is growing each day and how much he really wants to learn. Little sponges that they are.

The Tag Learn to Read Series combines fun stories with audio to help children identify letter sounds and hear how they come together to form words. If sitting down and reading through books isn’t engaging your child enough then this is a way of bringing the words to life as well as helping them absorb the information. You can see other Leapfrog education items here.

If you would like the opportunity to get a Leapfrog Tag Reading System Book then you have the chance to get one here courtesy of Argos.

*Please note that it doesn’t include the tag reader.

 

 

It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day on Thursday and although the weather forecasts predicted a nosedive in temperature, I wasn’t expecting to wake up to Autumn quite so soon when I woke up Friday morning. It was certainly a reminder that winter is on it’s way and I suppose the timing couldn’t be better in fact for talking about rugs.

We actually haven’t had a rug in our lounge for a few years now. It was around the time that Beastie had an obsession with raisins and I just couldn’t cope with plucking out mashed up gooey bits of raisins anymore from our very lovely red shaggy rug. We decided it would be easier to go without for a while. The downsides have of course have been that it’s just not as cosy, doesn’t look as nice and makes our laminate flooring feel much colder. You can’t beat a soft rug beneath your feet and to also be able to sit comfortably on the floor. One day when our boys can be trusted, we’ll invest in a nice new one.

In the meantime you have the opportunity to get one for your home! Perfect as we all get ready to hibernate. My Rug Store offer a wide selection of rugs including traditional, modern, designer, shaggy and wool. There is something to suit most tastes and because this company has lots of experience in the industry they are able to offer fantastic prices on the rugs they source. They also have a sale on at the moment with up to 40% off RRP that runs until the end of September.

To enter: All you need to do is follow the instructions on Rafflecopter at the end of this post. The competition closes on Wednesday 25th September at midnight. Fingers crossed.

Additionally every reader and giveaway entrant can receive a £10 off code to be used at www.myrugstore.co.uk. If you fancy getting something anyway, check back here nearer to the closing date for the special code you need to use…

Here is a selection of some of their popular rugs. I love the first one in the picture with the multi coloured pattern. Unfortunately I think raisins would still get wedged in that!

The Everyday Effect campaign brought to you by P&G is all about the ordinary things we can do in our days that can make a big difference to our own lives and the lives of those around us.

For me, precious time on my own can make a big difference to how I feel. If I’m stressed and feeling that everything is getting on top of me, I know that I just need a bit of ‘time out’ to give myself a bit of a breather and gain some perspective.

Since my children were born I have noticed that I very much took for granted the peace and quiet I used to enjoy before. If you don’t crave ‘me’ time as a mum then I think you are well and truly fibbing!

So we might not all have the time or lets face it, the funds to book a nice trip to the spa but just simply running a bath, having a read and a drink in peace can recharge your batteries – well maybe just a bit. I grab my opportunities when I can find them. When I do sometimes get some time completely on my own, I can at times not know what to do with myself. Life can be so busy, when it all stops suddenly it can feel strange that you aren’t keeping busy.

If like me, you don’t get an awful lot of time to yourself and it’s the little things that make a difference then you might like to receive a hamper of goodies so that you can enjoy a bit of the Everyday Effect too. To enter simply leave me a comment below and tweet the following:

I want to #win a P&G Everyday Effect Hamper with @Mummyandbeastie http://bit.ly/18uOVd7

The giveaway ends on Friday 30th August at midnight. The winner will be selected at random from all the entries received. UK entrants only. Good luck!